Bill Would Ensure Federal Contract Workers Hurt by Shutdown Receive Back Pay

Pressley Announced Bill at Emergency Meeting with Workers & Patients, on Harmful Impact of Government Shutdown

Bill Text (PDF)

BOSTON – Following the federal government shutdown, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), along with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), introduced legislation to secure back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who face furloughs and missed paychecks when the federal government is shutdown. Unlike federal employees, the thousands of federal contract workers—including janitorial, food, and security services workers—have no assurances that they will receive back pay to make up for their loss of hours and pay during a shutdown.

Rep. Pressley discussed the legislation at an emergency meeting last week about the government shutdown with workers, patients, labor leaders, and advocates to highlight the harm of the government shutdown.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act would ensure federal contract workers, including low-wage service workers providing security, food and janitorial services, are fairly compensated for the wages and benefits lost due to a lapse in appropriations, also known as a government shutdown. It is estimated that more than 327,000 federal contractors make under $15/per hour.  

“Government shutdowns are destabilizing events with devastating consequences for everyone—especially for the thousands of low-wage service workers and their families. With Republicans choosing to shut down the government rather than work with Democrats to protect the lives and livelihoods of workers they represent, our bill would help ensure that federal contractors harmed by Republicans’ cruel games are made whole,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “As a former hospitality worker who knows what it is to live paycheck-to-paycheck, I’m proud to join my colleagues in pushing this bill forward.”

“This is about fairness—contract workers and their families should not miss a paycheck because of a government shutdown they did nothing to cause,” said Sen. Smith. “Many federal contractors work in jobs that are important for government operations, providing security, food service and janitorial work.  These are often lower-wage jobs, with many workers living paycheck to paycheck. These workers can’t afford to go without, and they shouldn’t have to. In past shutdowns, contract workers haven’t received back pay at the end of a government shutdown like regular government employees. And it’s time we right that wrong.”

“Federal contractors and their families bear no responsibility for government shutdowns, but ultimately they pay for it,” Norton said. “Contractors work alongside government employees performing critical jobs that include food service, engineering, security, maintenance, electrical work, and much more. Their work enables essential parts of the federal government, including Congress, to function, yet they aren’t guaranteed backpay for their work during government shutdowns. This injustice must be rectified.”

“When the government shuts down, working people pay the price. Federal contract workers do essential jobs that keep our government running and our communities safe, and they shouldn’t lose a paycheck because of partisan gridlock,” said Congressman Norcross. “I’ll always fight to make sure every worker earns a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work. This legislation ensures that the backbone of our government won’t be punished for the chaos they didn’t cause.”

“Hardworking men and women should never have to pay the price for Washington gridlock,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Federal contractors are not faceless numbers on a spreadsheet, they are the cleaners, cafeteria workers, and tradesmen who keep our country running. When shutdowns force them off the job, they lose more than a paycheck—they lose security, stability, and peace of mind. The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act is about restoring their wages, honoring their work, and standing with the working families who deserve to be respected, protected, and paid fairly for the jobs they do.”

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act would: 

• Provide contract workers, including low-wage service workers, with back pay (and restored paid leave benefits, if used), after a government shutdown, 
• Cover costs associated with back pay for workers in an amount equal to their weekly compensation up to $1,442, (250% of the federal poverty level for a family of four), and 
• Require the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to submit a report on federal contractors accessing back pay. 

The legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Alma Adams, Gabe Amo, Yassamin Ansari, Jake Auchincloss, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragan, Joyce Beatty, Wesley Bell, Don Beyer, Brendan F. Boyle, Suzanne Bonamici, Julia Brownley, Shontel Brown, Nikki Budzinski, Janelle Bynum, Joaquin Castro, Greg Casar, Sean Casten, Kathy Castor, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Yvette Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, Steve Cohen, Danny Davis, Diana DeGette, Suzan DelBene, Sarah Elfreth, Veronica Escobar, Adriano Espaillat, Dwight Evans, Cleo Fields, Lizzie Fletcher, Bill Foster, Maxwell Frost, Chuy García, Sylvia Garcia, Dan Goldman, Al Green, Val Hoyle, Glenn Ivey, Jonathan Jackson, Pramila Jayapal, Timothy M. Kennedy, William R. Keating, Greg Landsman, John B. Larson, Summer L. Lee, Stephen Lynch, Doris Matsui, Lucy McBath, Sarah McBride, Jennifer L. McClellan, Betty McCollum, James P. McGovern, Gwen Moore, Seth Moulton, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Scott Peters, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Stacey Plaskett, Delia C. Ramirez, Emily Randall, Jamie Raskin, Luz Rivas, Raul Ruiz, Andrea Salinas, Jan Schakowsky, Brad Sherman, Lateefah Simon, Bobby Scott, Melanie Stansbury, Suhas Subramanyam, Eric Swalwell, Mark Takano, Shri Thanedar, Bennie G. Thompson, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Lori Trahan, Derek Tran, Lauren Underwood, Juan Vargas, Marc Veasey, Nydia M. Velazquez, Maxine Waters, James R. Walkinshaw, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Nikema Williams, along with Senators Kaine, Warner, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Padilla, Duckworth, Durbin, Baldwin, Warren, Heinrich, Blumenthal, Markey, Sanders, Rosen, Hirono, Klobuchar, Shaheen, Whitehouse, Wyden, Schatz, Gillibrand, Fetterman, Cortez Masto, Gallego, Booker, Schiff, Blunt Rochester, Lujan, King, Kim and Merkley. 

The legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), AFL-CIO, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), Communication Workers of America (CWA), Iron Workers International, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO), UNITE HERE, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and SEIU 32BJ.

A copy of the bill text can be found here.

Rep. Pressley initially introduced the legislation—her first piece of legislation as a Congresswoman—during the 2018-2019 government shutdown. Rep. Pressley had previously joined her Progressive Caucus colleagues in urging bicameral leadership that federal contract service workers – including food service, custodial, and security professionals – receive back pay for wages lost during the 2018-2019 government shutdown. The legislation was re-introduced in September 2023.

In the Senate, Sen. Smith led the effort to secure back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who went many weeks without a paycheck during the 35-day government shutdown in 2019.

This week, Rep. Pressley rallied with advocates, colleagues, and impacted folks to demand Republicans protect healthcare and keep the government open.

Congresswoman Pressley stood in solidarity with workers and families who would be impacted by the government shutdown.

Rep. Pressley also joined an all-day event with House Democrats to hold the line against Trump and Republicans’ efforts to rip away healthcare from millions of Americans.

Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning Republicans after they chose to shut down the government rather than work with Democrats to protect families and save healthcare for millions.

###